Container for spherical objects and blank for forming same



Fb. 79 196'? D J, SHEEHAN M CONTAINER FOR SPHERICAL OBJECTS AND BLANK FOR Pomme SAME Filed om 19, 1.965 2 sne-bsmhe-r, 1

lib

@@gwm@ mm @961W D. J. SHEEHAN CONTAINER FOR SPHERICAL OBJECTS AND BLANK FUR FDRMING SAME met. len, 1,9%

l @AQK United States Patent O CONTAINER FOR SPI-IERICAL OBJECTS ANI) BLANK FOR FRMING SAME Douglas J. Sheehan, 7406 137th NE., Redmond, Wash. 98052 Filed Oct. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 497,955 7 Claims. (Cl. 229-8) This invention relates to containers for packaging of like spherical objects in an orderly and space saving manner. More particularly, the invention relates to containers, and blanks for forming same, wherein the containers are easily handled, can be stacked in an inter-` locking fashion, and are especially adapted to enclose a multiplicity of like spherical objects with a minimum of void or interspace between the objects.

Containers characteristic of the invention are configured to have six interconnected, essentially planar sides, with each of the sides occupying a plane oriented at an angle of substantially 60 with respect to the planes of the connecting sides. The invention is applicable to the packaging of any of a wide variety of like spherical objects, such as oranges, marbles or ball bearings, simply by way of typical example. Any multiple number of such like spherical objects can be thus packaged. However, or maximum utilization of the space saving feature of the invention, the number of like spherical objects thus packaged should be a multiple of three integers wherein each integer represents the number of objects in line along each dimension of the package. In these respects, and for simplicity of illustration of the present invention, a package has been selected which involves the arrangement of three such objects in a row along each dimension of the package, i.e. wherein the total number of objects contained is 33 or 27.

In connection with the following description of a typical embodiment of the invention, reference is to be made to the accompanying drawing, wherein like letters and numbers refer to like parts, and wherein:

vFIG. l is a cross-sectional View showing the arrangement of like spherical objects in a conventional container of rectangular form;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the arrangement of spherical objects in a container according to the present invention; q

FIG. 3 is a cabinet view of an arrangement of spherical objects in a container according to the present invention, with the edges of the sides of the container being shown by dash and double dotted lines and certain crosssectional planes through the container and the spherical objects being shown by broken single dotted lines, `for clarity of illustration; Y

FIG. 4 is a View in side elevation of the objects container shown in FIG. 3; l

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a blank `from which a container of the type shown in FIGS. 2-4 is made; and

FIG. 6 is an isometric view showing a multiplicity of containers according to the present invention, arranged in an interlocking, stacked manner.

Most containers in use today are rectangular in configuration, and like spherical objects cannot be arranged therein in a closely packed fashion without considerable wastage of empty interspace or void volume. This inherent disadvantage in rectangular packaging is illustrated somewhat diagrammatically in FIG. l, wherein like spherical objects such as ball bearings, certain of which are designated S, are contained in rectangular container RC. As will be observed in FIG. 1, the empty interspace V between the various objects S is inherently substantial. As will also be apparent from a threedimensional visualization, the inner spherical object S1 and ICC

not in contact with a side of the container RC contacts but six other objects.

In contrast to the relatively large amount of empty interspace V in the conventional rectangular packaging shown in FIG. l, FIG. 2 by cross-sectional view, shows an arrangement of spherical objects according to the present invention, wherein the objects, certain of which are designated S, are arranged in the container PC so that the empty interspace or void V between objects is considerably smaller because, as will be three-dimensionally visualized, the inner object of S1 contacts a total of twelve other objects. To achieve this result, the container PC (as shown collectively by FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, as well as the container forming blank shown in FIG. 5) comprises six interconnected sides 10, 12, 14, 16, 13, 20, with each of said sides being essentially planar and in the configuration of a parallelogram with two oppositely related included angles of substantially 60 and two oppositely related included angles of substantially Stated otherwise, each parallelogrammic side of the container PC is of diamond shape, with the edges of the side oriented to deline alternate included angles of 60 and 120. Stated in yet another manner, the container PC is characterized by having six symmetrical sides, each in a configuration of a parallelograrn, with two opposed corners 22, 24 of the container being defined by connected corners of three sides (sides 10, 14, 18 in the case of corner 22, and sides 12, 16, 20 in the case of corner 24), each having an included angle of substantially 60, and the remaining corners 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36 being defined. by connected corners of the adjacent sides, two of which latter corners have an included angle of 120, and one of which has an included angle of 60.

As will be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the broken lines 2S represents an imaginary plane through a layer of the objects S within the container PC, and the crosssectional view of the objects S and container PC occupied by planes 2S are each identical to the cross-sectional View shown at FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 shows in plan view a blank PCB from which the container PC is suitably formed. This blank PCB is cut from a at -sheet of cardboard or the like, and configured to have six diamond-shaped panels respectively forming the sides 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 of the container PC and designated with like numbers in FIG. 5, with each -panel having but one common edge with another panel, and with each panel having at least one foldable ap along a bonding edge thereof for interconnection With another panel when the blank is folded to form said container PC. Thus, as shown at FIG. 5, panel It) is provided with a ilap 40 which, on folding of the blank along the interpanel edges (shown at broken lines in FIG. 5), overlaps and is joined to the edge 42 of panel 18, as by being adhesively bonded or stapled thereto. In like manner, flap 44 on panel 12 is joined to edge 46 on panel 16, flap 48 on panel 14 is joined to edge 50 of panel 10, flap 52 on panel 16 is joined to edge 54 of panel 20, llap 56 of panel 18 is joined to edge 58 of panel 14, and aps 60, 62 on panel 2t) are respectively joined to or frictionally fit within edges 64, 66 of panels 12 and 10, depending on whether side 20 of the container is sealed or is. reopenable.

One of the important advantages of a container of l the type provided by the present invention is that the container not only arranges the spherical objects S closer together in the sense of being less empty interspace therebetween, but also tends to be completely filled more readily, i.e. the spheres readily fall into proper place as the container is filled, which is not the case with a rectangular type container such as shown in FIG. 1 in that in the FIG 1 container each sphere above the lower layer of spheres must contact only one lower sphere, which is a condition of instability unless other spheres are also`in proper place beside it. In contrast, each sphere above the lower layer in the container PC of the invention, as shown at FIG. 2, has a state of rest involving support by either three lower spheres, or two lower spheres and the side of the container, which is a condition of stability regardless of the presence or absence of other spheres in the same layer.

A further advantage of the container PC is that, although the container will rest stably on any one of its sides, it can easily be rotated to a new base by pressing down in the area of the intermediate overhanging corner (eg. corner 32 in FIG. 4). By repetition of this procedure, the container can be readily rolled When all edges of the container are of equal length, the container will roll equally from any base.

To manually lift the container PC, one can simply press downwardly on the overhanging end corner (e.g. corner 24 of FIG. 4) with one hand and slip the other hand under the other end corner (e.g. corner 22 in FIG. 4), then lift the container. As will be apparent this manner of manipulation of the container to get proper hand holds for lifting thereof is manifestly easier than the manipulation necessary to get one or both hands under a rectangular container.

A further advantage of the container PC is that, instead of catching on an obstruction when sliding, the sloped faces and corner (e.g. corner 36 in FIG. 4) facilitates sliding of the container over the obstruction.

Yet another advantage of the container PC is that its configuration at either end corner (corners 22, 24 in FIGS. 3 and 4) provides a ready made spout to facilitate emptying of the container.

A further advantage of the container PC is found in its stacking characteristics, as seen in FIG. 6. When stacked in multiple levels the containers of each upper level overlap the containers of the next lower level with each interiorly placed container resting on as many as four lower containers, thus effectively interlocking the containers of the stack. As will be understood, when a large number of containers are stacked together as in a truck or box car, and when the stack is also restrained from above (as from the ceiling of the storage area or by strapping to a pallet), the only wastage of space is around the outside of the stack and the stack becomes a very stable entity; more so than if a multiplicity of rectangular containers of comparable volume when stacked one upon another.

Although it is preferable to have all edges of the container PC of equal length, as shown, it will be understood the edges can be of various lengths consistent with the basic parallelepipedal form shown. As will also be apparent, for certain usages, the container can be open topped, in which case one side or panel (eg. side can be dispensed with. Likewise evident will be the proposition that in certain instances the edges and corners of the container can be rounded if desired.

As will also be understood, while the container has been discussed with respect to the packaging of like spherical objects, the container form also has utility for packaging of objects of any form or for packaging simply granular or particulate material (e.g. sugar or flour, for example), in that the advantages as to handling of the container and as to its interlocking characteristics when stacked pertain regardless of the nature of the contents.

These and other modifications, adaptations and variations characteristic of the invention will be understood to be within the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A container capable of stably resting on any side yet readily rollable, and capable of being stacked in an interlocking fashion, said container comprising six interconnected sides, each of said sides being essentially planar and the configuration of a parallelogram with two oppositely related included angles of substantially 60 and two oppositely related included angles of substantially 2. A container for snugly enclosing a multiplicity of like spherical objects with a minimum of interspace between the objects, said container comprising six interconnected, essentially planar sides, at least ve of which are closed, with each of said sides occupying a plane oriented at an angle of substantially 60 with respect to the planes of the sides connected therewith.

3. A container of parallelepipedal form for congruent spherical objects, said container comprising six interconnected sides, at least five of which are closed, each of said sides being essentially planar and in the configuration of a parallelogram with two oppositely related included angles of substantially 60 and two oppositely related included angles of substantially 120.

4. An article of commerce comprising a closed container of parallelepipedal form, having six symmetrical sides each in the configuration of a parallelogram, with two opposed corners of said container being defined by connected corners of three sides each having an included angle of 60 and the remaining corners of said container being defined by connected corners of -said sides, two of which latter corners have an included angle of 120 and one of which has an included angle of 60.

5 An article of commerce comprising a closed container of parallelepipedal form, snugly filled with like spherical objects, said container having six symmetrical sides each in the configuration of a parallelogram, with two opposed corners of said container being deiined by connected corners of three sides each having an included angle of 60 and the remaining corners of said container being defined by connected corners of said sides, two of which latter corners have an included angle of 120 and one of which has an included angle of 60.

6. An article of commerce comprising a containerforming blank from which a six sided container of parallelepipedal shape is formable, said blank being cut from a flat sheet of cardboard or the like, and configured to have six diamond shaped panels with each panel having but one common edge with another panel, and with each panel having at least one foldable iiap along a bounding edge thereof for interconnection with another panel when the blank is folded to form said container.

7. An article of commerce according to claim 6, wherein each edge of said diamond shaped panel lies at an angle of -substantially 60 with one adjacent side and lies at an angle of substantially 120 with the other adjacent side thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 29,644 11/ 1898 Davidson. 1,322,637 11/1919 Smith 229--22 X 1,413,108 4/1922 Dyer 206-46 2,936,939 5/ 1960 Lundquist 229-8 3,125,302 3/ 1964 Henricot.

GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CONTAINER CAPABLE OF STABLY RESTING ON ANY SIDE YET READILY ROLLABLE, AND CAPABLE OF BEING STACKED IN AN INTERLOCKING FASHION, SAID CONTAINER COMPRISING SIX INTERCONNECTED SIDES, EACH OF SAID SIDES BEING ESSENTIALLY PLANAR AND THE CONFIGURATION OF A PARALLELOGRAM WITH TWO OPPOSITELY RELATED INCLUDED ANGLES OF SUBSTANTIALLY 60* AND TWO OPPOSITELY RELATED INCLUDED ANGLES OF SUBSTANTIALLY 120*. 